Another important aspect of our collective worship is the offering up of prayers. It is evident in examining the practice of prayer that God expects it. Like with singing, no prohibitions are given regarding time or place. We are told to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). We have examples of Jesus praying in solitude (cf. Luke 5:16), and are instructed in the practice of solitary prayer ourselves (cf. Matthew 6:5-6).
We are also given examples of Christians praying together. In Acts 12, we find Peter to have been imprisoned. With the help of God he escaped, and went to his brethren. “So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying” (12).
In there very beginning of the church, as Luke recounted the effectiveness of the preaching of the gospel on Pentecost, he noted that corporate prayer was a part of their worship. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
Our common practice of having one lead in prayer in corporate worship is also clearly authorized in scripture. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul addressed problems of confusion in the Corinthian’s worship. His concluding thought in the chapter was, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (40). Previously (in verses 15-17) he discussed the fact that prayers offered in the assembly needed to be understood by all. As he wrote in verses 16-17, “Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at the your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For indeed you give thanks well, but the other is not edified.” This brings to our attention a few important considerations about such public prayer.
Those who pray to God in our assemblies are praying for all of us. This is what the word “Amen” indicates. It is a word universal to almost every language. It is what makes a sentiment (here the prayer of another) our own. Consider these words one shared on the topic, defining the word and speaking of the end of a statement or prayer: “at the end – so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.”
As such (and indicated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14), there are certain things a man leading in prayer should remember. First, his words must be heard for others to be able to utter Amen at their end. If a microphone is used, speak directly into it. If needed, raise your voice, turn toward your fellow worshippers, speak distinctly, and slow enough to be understood. Remember such prayers may differ, as you are not praying privately about your own needs or secret things, but are instead letting God know of the sentiments, needs, requests and praise that are common to all in the congregation. A wonderful example of the constituent elements of prayer, especially prayers we may offer on behalf of all, is seen in Jesus’ model prayer teaching His disciples in Matthew 6. “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (9-13). This prayer contains: praise to God the Father; acknowledgment of our own responsibility to obey; requests for needs and wants; petitions for forgiveness of our sins; requests for strength and guidance; and a final acknowledgment of God’s preeminence and glory. These are the types of sentiments that should always be present in our prayers when we pray together.
Thus prayer is an important part of our worship together. It should be treated as such. It should never become routine. If we consider the object of our prayers, it will always remain special to us. It is a right God has given us to communicate with Him. Our prayers activate the providential care of the most powerful and beneficent One in the universe! We are promised by our Lord, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). In another place Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24).
Prayer also gives us the opportunity to fulfill both our duty and desire to praise His great and glorious name! Nehemiah 9 records a gathering of the assembly of Israel after the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s laws. The people were together for a time, with Ezra reading the law; the keeping of the feast of the tabernacles; and the people confessing their sins before God. In the midst of these events a corporate (assembly) prayer was offered to God. The full prayer is found in 9:5-38. Consider this excerpt: “Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever! ‘Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.’” (Nehemiah 9:5-6).
We are blessed as children of the Almighty God to be able to gather together and worship Him in prayer. Amen!
